At the opening ceremony on Monday 18th February at 10am – the monks will do prayers to request permission of the local spirits to construct the mandala at this particular site.  Once this has been achieved – the monks will begin construction of the mandala from the centre and over the next 6 days slowly build the mandala until completion on Sunday the 24th.  During this time motivational prayers will begin at 9am each day and dedication prayers will begin at 4pm. These prayer go for about half an hour each time and everyone is invited to participate.   The Mandala closing ceremony will take place around 3pm on Sunday the 24th February, where the monks will say some prayers and request the presence of Medicine Buddha himself.  Medicine Buddha comes and blesses each grain of sand.  The Mandala is then ceremonially dissolved and the ceremonial sand will be offered to those present and the rest will be carried to the stream edge.  Another ceremony will take place here where the water spirits are called upon to receive the blessed sand and carry these offerings throughout the land.